Bin Laden 'nearly caught in car'

Osama bin Laden was almost captured in 2002 and 2003 after when a car he was travelling in was stopped for speeding, according to reports by a commission set up by the country's military and political leaders that has been obtained by Al Jazeera.

Bin Laden is believed to have entered Pakistan in early 2002 after narrowly avoiding capture by the United States in the battle of Tora Bora, Afghanistan.

The terror leader then lived in several different locations before moving to his two-storey Abbottabad compound in 2005.

A devastating earthquake hit Pakistan in October 2005, which allowed bin Laden's group to build an unauthorised floor on the compound .

The former al Qaeda leader lived a frugal lifestyle before moving to the compound, owning only six pairs of shalwar kameez - Pakistani dress - a single black jacket and two sweaters, according to his wives testimony to the Abbottabad Commission.

The inquiry was set-up by Pakistani military and political leaders to examine how the US was able to carry out the operation that killed bin Laden and the failings of the country's intelligence services.

Osama bin Laden was killed in his compound in Pakistan in 2011. Credit: REUTERS/Pentagon/Handout

Bin Laden reportedly went to his balcony on May 1, 2011, to see what was happening but it was dark outside because of the moonless sky.

Sadah then went to turn the bedroom light on but bin Laden shouted 'no' and then called for his son Khalid, who was on the floor below.

The terror leader started reciting versus of the Quran with his daughters before telling his family that American helicopters had arrived and they should leave his room.

Bin Laden's daughter Sumayya told the Abbottabad Commission, which was set-up by Pakistan politicians to look into the terror leader's death, she did not see her father killed but saw his lifeless body on the floor.

She said he had been shot in the forehead and that his face was "clear" and recognisable.

Osama bin Laden was killed in his compound in Pakistan in 2011. Credit: Reuters

The former al Qaeda leader was reportedly living in the Swat region, near the Pakistan border with Afghanistan, for between six to eight months in 2002 and 2003.

On one occasion bin Laden and a group he was travelling with were driving to a nearby bazaar when his car was apparently stopped.

Ibrahim al-Kuwaiti, the driver and a trusted guard, managed to "quickly settle the matter", according to his wife Maryam who was interviewed as part of the Abbottabad Commission.

The inquiry was set-up by Pakistani military and political leaders to examine how the US was able to carry out the operation that killed bin Laden and the failings of the country's intelligence services.

Some 201 witnesses were interviewed, including members of bin Laden's family, the chief of Pakistan's spy agency and other military officials.